Media Release - Outstanding Citizens and Events Recognised
OUTSTANDING CITIZENS AND EVENTS RECOGNISED
Australia Day Awards recognise outstanding contributions across The Flinders Ranges Council area.
The Flinders Ranges Council is proud to announce the recipients of this year's Australia Day Awards, and welcome our newest Australian Citizen Daniel Lutz, originally from Germany.
The awards, which were presented on 26 January, honoured those whose dedication, service, and leadership have had a lasting impact on the community.
The recipients of the 2025 Australia Day Awards are:
- Citizen of the Year: John Teague
- John is a highly regarded and respected, committed, passionate and knowledgeable advocate for Hawker and the Flinders Ranges. He is an active member of many local and regional organisations. He is also a strong voice on regional issues such as tourism, economic development and infrastructure.
- Community Event of the Year: NRMA Quorn Cricket Festival
- Through a simple act of kindness of assisting to fix a flat tyre, the Quorn Cricket Club hosted the NRMA Quorn Cricket Festival from 4-7 December 2025 with the event attracting 800 plus people and involving the wider community.
- Active Citizens of the Year: Sarah Kruger
- Sarah is an outstanding and long-standing active member of various associations and sporting committees in Quorn with her leadership and organisational skills having a lasting and positive impact in community participation and connection.
- Certificates of Recognition:
- Quorn Hospital Auxiliary – Through their catering and fundraising efforts, the Auxiliary have donated over $50,000 worth of equipment and food to the Quorn Hospital and Flinders House over the last 15 years, which is an amazing effort.
- Quorn Line Dancers – The line dancers are an inspiration for the older residents in Quorn with them still getting together weekly to practice and then doing free demonstrations at many local events and regularly at Flinders House.
- Claire Moran – Claire is another involved and valued community members and sits on various committees and associations and was the key driving force behind the very successful “Love the Skin You’re In” event held in November 2025.
- Terry Smith – Terry is a do-er and has been an active member of many clubs in Quorn for over 20 years. He is also involved in Christmas functions by donning the “red suit” for many years.
- Clean Up the Pass – Community volunteers have been cleaning up the Pass prior to the Pichi Richi Marathon for many years. Their efforts are appreciated by the Council and all participants with an enormous amount of rubbish collected each year.
Mayor Ken Anderson said the awards highlight the extraordinary people that have risen during challenging times within The Flinders Ranges Council area. “These remarkable individuals and groups have had a positive impact on the community in some form or another and their motivations to offer a helping hand and make a different is appreciated and now formally recognised.”
Australia Day events were held across The Flinders Ranges Council region in Quorn, Hawker and Cradock.